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Since I seem to be writing myself into a corner by pigeonholing this series into Tweets I Used To Do, I decided to switch things up and go back to a time before social media. For this week, I wanted to look back at the time when I used to...
No! Not Fig again! Ugh. No matter the clamor to #BringFigBack, I'm talking about a different beast altogether. Before I even started to lift up my pen and narrate the stories of the universes I create in my head, I lifted my pencil and tried to sketch them instead. Yes folks, I'm talking about my first (art) love...
For those of you who are wondering, I did not draw the cowboys who are, well, drawing in my cover image. I copied it from a more talented artist, Brandon Christopher Harris. I fear my skill in drawing had never even come close to that level, though I often wish it would.
Some might say that it's never too late, and I would like to believe that it's true. But, given the time afforded to me, I don't think I would ever get to a skill level where I'm satisfied. Perhaps when my passive income is averaging $100 a day, I would be able to devote all my time to drawing. But, until that time, all I could do is to take a trip down...
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When I was a wee lad, way before I ever picked up my first dictionary, I expressed myself by going on tantrums or venturing off into the wild (a story for a different Things I Used To Do). But, whenever my parents were fortunate enough to have me settled in one place, I gravitated towards sketching. This is the part where I want to say that I miraculously replicated the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel on my very first try, but I don't want to lie. Even if I write fiction here on Steemit full-time.
It's not like I was one of those kids who drew on walls or floors, God no. I instead scribbled on books and prescription pads. Yeah I know, I know. I always chastise people who destroy books for art. But, that's because I was one of those people. Personally, I feel like only people who have experienced something should be allowed to judge people who do it. I didn't have as high a regard of books then, so forgive me for my past transgression. I knew not what I was doing.
And yes, I admit it. I've wasted many a tree in my quest to become the best artist around. For that I am sorry, my kinsmen from a different kingdom.
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I wish I could take a snap of all of my past work, but alas most have either been taken by time or the trash compactor. So, I'll just try to recall my progression in honor of their memory.
Like many others, I started with stick figures. From the looks of Fig, it seems like I have never really gotten far. Pretty soon I figured out how to do simple animation by flipping through sheets of paper. I made stick figures dance while I consumed whole notebooks, and I was happy with my progress. If I remember correctly, I was in preschool when I learned this trick. I was so proud of myself. Heck, I felt like I was ahead of my peers during that time.
Eventually, I moved on to bigger things. I began to copy art from anywhere I could find it. We had a Sega Megadrive when I was a kid, and the first game I ever owned was Sonic & Knuckles. Little did I know that this game would have a huge impact on my life, but that's a story for a different post. Anyway, the cover image for that was what I copied. Specifically, this cover:
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It was totally different from what I was used to, but I felt I was ready. Sadly, I wasn't, and I quickly became disappointed at my inability to perfectly replicate it. My mother suggested that I used onion paper so that I could easily trace the image. Once I got the hang of it, I would be able to draw it on my own. So, that's what I did. Lo and behold, it worked!
Knuckles became one of my favorite characters of all time, I even collected his entire comic book series. I still have it to this very day, though it's not in good shape :( It was a character I became known in drawing during my early elementary school years that when I came across a classmate of mine back then recently, that was the first thing she remembered me for.
I became obsessed with it. If my memory serves me correctly, the Sonic universe was the first one I ever expanded on. I created comics (stapled together bond paper) and sold them to my classmates. It was a complete comic, too. Filled with script and thought bubbles and panels, though there was no color. But, there was a story and dialogue! I guess you could say it was my first foray into fiction. It's my dream to be comic book creator, and while a part of that dream is still alive (to be a comic book writer), my artist dreams have all but vanished.
Aside from that, I was am also a big fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, so I took it upon myself to draw them as well. I became quite adept at drawing them that I later invented new characters that fit the mold. Leonardo is of course the best, and I won't take any arguments regarding that.
Eventually, anime took over, and I began drawing characters from Dragonball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho, Flame of Recca and, of course, Gundam. This was during the later years of my elementary school. My favorite one to draw was Duo Maxwell and his Gundam Deathscythe, because you know that I'm heading towards my angsty phase. Jeez I'm sorry I'm not able to post my drawing of those (or, uh, you're welcome), I have a whole sketchbook filled with that but I wasn't able to find it. I mean a real sketchbook, like a professional one. By this time, I already meant business. Sadly, I'm the only one who meant business.
This is the part where I tell you "Don't tell my mother"
You see, I love my mother. To pieces, in fact. But, of course, she has her faults. Whenever I reminisce about this and I muse out loud that I could've been a professional graphic artist, she always makes it a point to huff and puff, and walk away angrily. In a way, I guess a part of me does blame her for my drawing skill that wasn't nurtured. She put me through piano lessons and other stuff that she had been frustrated to learn for herself, but my real interests remained untapped. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't this savant that was waiting to be nudged in the right direction, but a little sharpening could've surely improved my skill. I mean, I was already drawing full scenes of anime shows that I have snapped using my camera.
Nothing anyone could do about it now. Still, it's interesting to think of the possibilities. I don't think I would've ventured into computer science if I had realized I had potential to be a graphic artist. Heck, I don't think I would even be a writer since I would be busy telling stories through my art.
All in all, I could've been a way different person had I chosen a different path. That's a branch of the butterfly effect that may be too all-encompassing. It's scary to think that pursuing another art form could drastically change a person. But, I do feel that would be the case if I became an artist. I might not be as brooding as I am now. Thankfully, I am, so you're welcome, world.
Apprarently I copied this from a character from The Boondocks, but that was supposed to be me. Notice the hair.
Anyway, as I put drawing on the backburner, I decided to just doodle in my free time. I felt like I wasn't any good, so why should I spend more time with it. It's counter-intuitive, I know, but I was studying other things as the time. I went on to digital means, but I still took some time to draw with a pencil now and again.
I call this one Warrior from Scratch. I wonder why.
When I ran out of artificial intelligence and ethical hacking electives back in college, I even enrolled in 3D Modelling. It wasn't my cup of tea, but hey, I learned a new medium of art. But, that didn't reinvigorate my passion for drawing.
This is entitled Waking Up, guess which movie inspired me to make this.
Eventually, over time, my skill degraded, and now I'm at a level where my gradeschool self drew better than what I can manage to doodle right now. Still, I can't help but wonder, with the middling progress I've been having with my writing, would I have done better if I pursued a career as an artist? Would switching now be the best choice? It's never too late, but I would be competing with gradeschoolers in terms of skill. At my age, that's not the level where I want to be at. But then again, that's why drawing is... a thing I used to do.